Manual Print Quantities1918-1969

Below is noted the approximate print quantities for all English language versions (including known overseas editions) exluding American editions, for manuals from 1918 to 1969. These are based on the manual print codes. All quantities are in thousands. It is only possible to estimate print quantities from 1918 to 1969 as before 1918 print codes were not used and after 1969 the Print Codes were changed to Print References which did not indicate the quantity printed.

It should be noted that up to 1961 only English language versions of the manuals are included, whereas from 1962, the manuals are all multi-language which has the effect of increasing the number of manuals printed.

Print Quantities 1918-21

Year

0

0-3

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Total

1918

25

100

-

25

-

150

1919

200

450

50

10

-

710

1920

150

210

30

20

-

410

1921

65

140

10

5

15

235

Total

440

900

90

60

15

1505

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1918 to 1921 = 376 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1918 and 1921 = 1505 Thousand (i.e. 1,505,000)

Print Quantities 1922-27

Year

00

0

0-3

Book 1

Total

1922

-

50

160

23

233

1923

5

40

-

11

56

1924

5

80

135

15.5

235.5

1925

25

67.5

130

12.5

235

1926

30

50

120

14.5

214.5

1927

20

85

157.5

23

285.5

Total

85

372.5

702.5

99.5

1259.5

Average number of manuals printed per yearfrom 1922 to 1927 = 209 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1922 and 1927 = 1259.5 Thousand (i.e. 1,259,500)

Print Quantities 1928-35

Year

000

00

00a

0

0a

00-1

1a

00-2

2a

00-3

3a

00-4

4a

4-75-7

Total

1928

-

62.5

-

195

-

-

-

-

-

238.5

-

-

-

45

541

1929

-

75

-

89

-

-

-

-

-

106

-

-

-

17.25

287.25

1930

134.5

106.5

-

266.5

-

-

-

-

-

227

-

-

-

16

750.5

1931

35

29.5

13.25

55

15

44.5

16

20

12

10.75

4.5

7.5

2.5

5

270.5

1932

29.25

53

9

44

10.5

25

10

10

9.1

5.75

2.5

3.5

1

4

216.6

1933

11.5

18

-

40.5

6

23.75

12.4

10.25

-

5

0.25

1.75

0.25

1.15

130.8

1934

25

19

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

-

-

50

1935

13

2.5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.5

17

Total

248.25

366

22.25

694

31.5

93.25

38.4

40.25

21.1

594

7.25

13.75

3.75

89.9

2263.65

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1928 to 1935 = 282 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1928 and 1935 = 2263.65 Thousand (i.e. 2,263,650)

Print Quantities (Lettered Manuals) 1934-37

Year

O

Oa

AO-A

Aa

A-BO-B

Ba

A-CO-C

Ca

A-DO-D

Da

A-EO-E

F-L

Total

1934

-

-

50

7.5

25

7.5

21

6

12

4

12

8.5

153.5

1935

-

-

20

4.95

30

4.025

21

3.225

13.55

1.75

11.7

5.6

115.8

1936

58

12

32.5

2

14

3.25

25.5

2.75

12.75

2.3

16.75

7.85

189.65

1937

-

15

15

2.5

12

2.5

6

2

1.5

1

2

2.4

61.9

Total

58

27

117.5

16.95

81

17.275

73.5

13.975

39.8

9.05

42.45

24.35

520.85

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1934 to 1937 = 130 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1934 and 1937 = 520.85 Thousand (i.e. 520,850)

Print Quantities 1937-41

Year

000

0

1

1a

2

2a

3

3a

4

4a

5

5a

6

6a

7/8

9/10

MoreModels

Total

1937

-

60

64

8

105

12

59.5

12

53.5

9

25

6

19

4

11

3

-

451

1938

-

50

45

10

20

10

29

7.5

24

6.5

12

4.5

19.5

3

7.75

2

-

250.75

1939

5

46

64.5

10.5

58

12.75

43

7.5

34

5

14

3.5

13

-

8

-

232

556.75

1940

12

55

130

14

60

15

42

12

25

10

15

6

8.5

-

6.5

1

-

412

1941 (Early)

-

45

-

-

-

-

-

2.75

-

-

-

3

5

3

4

1.5

-

64.25

1941 (Late)

10

-

55

12.5

42

15

40

15

16

12.5

10

9

-

-

-

-

-

237

Total

27

256

358.5

55

285

64.75

213.5

56.75

152.5

43

76

32

65

10

37.25

7.5

232

1971.75

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1937 to 1941 = 394 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1937 and 1941 = 1971.75 Thousand (i.e. 1,971,750)

Print Quantities 1945-47

Year

0

1

1a

2

2a

3

3a

4

4a

5

5a

6

6a

7/8

Total

1945

61.25

91.25

14

77

17

64.75

16

17.75

13.5

8.25

9

-

-

-

389.75

1946

85

65

10

75

7

95

5

57.5

2.5

52.5

2.5

30.25

5

5

497.25

1947

75

56

15.5

55

17

50

20.5

38.5

15

26

11

49

2

20

450.5

Total

221.25

212.25

39.5

207

41

209.75

41.5

113.75

31

86.75

22.5

79.25

7

25

1337.5

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1945 and 1947 = 445 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1945 and 1947 = 1337.5 Thousand (i.e. 1,337,500)

Print Quantities 1948-53

Year

0

0a

1

1a

2

2a

3

3a

4

4a

5

5a

6

6a

7/8

9

10

Total

1948

37.5

20

85

26

70

28

82.5

28

44

20

39

21

38

13

22.5

4.5

-

579

1949

11

-

40

22.5

40

22.5

35

22.5

30

17.5

15

15

42

17.5

35

11.6

3

380.1

1950

49

20

116

25

130

22.5

124

25

96

22.5

71

17.5

92

15

53

6.5

1.5

886.5

1951

75

-

90

27.5

85

27.5

70

30

60

25

45

27

50

20

25

6

3

666

1952

30

17.5

50

17.5

40

20

40

22.5

27.5

17.5

17.5

10

15

-

10

-

-

335

1953

32.5

-

71

10

60

15

56

15

48

12.5

22.5

7.5

3

10

-

2

2.3

367.3

Total

235

57.5

452

128.5

425

135.5

407.5

143

305.5

115

210

98

240

75.5

145.5

30.6

9.8

3213.9

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1948 to 1953 = 535 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1948 and 1953 = 3213.9 Thousand (i.e. 3,213,900)

Print Quantities 1954-61

Year

00

0

0a

1

1a

2

2a

3

3a

4

4a

5

5a

6

6a

7/8

9

MoreModels

Total

1954

55

90

35

100

50

95

52.5

90

50

60

20

38

32.5

40

20

27

2.5

-

857.5

1955

35

50

-

85

-

85

-

70

20

45

20

25

12.5

27.5

-

10

4

-

489

1956

60

25

-

183

17.5

195

20

110

25

84

15

27.5

10

36

7.5

13.5

1

-

830

1957

60

75

10

65

12.5

70

12.5

50

20

35

7.5

10

10

12.5

-

10

3

-

463

1958

35

55

12.5

60

17.5

60

15

55

7.5

35

10

21

-

16

6

7.5

-

-

413

1959

15

77.5

10

100

10

105

10

25

10

22.5

10

10

10

10

5

-

2.5

-

432.5

1960

20

25

-

30

26.5

30

31

130

30.5

82

27

64

10

33.5

5

5

-

15

564.5

1961

16

27

10.5

99.5

5.5

95

8.5

63.5

14

66

6.5

8.5

-

6

-

7

0.6

40

474.1

Total

296

424.5

78

722.5

139.5

735

149.5

593.5

177

429.5

116

204

85

181.5

43.5

80

13.6

55

4523.6

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1954 to 1961 = 565 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1954 and 1961 = 4523.6 Thousand (i.e. 4,523,600)

Print Quantities 1962-69

Year

0/1

1

2/3

4/5/6

7/8

MoreModels

Total

1962

650

-

303

256

22.3

42

1273.3

1963

-

-

100

90

-

-

190

1964

325

-

200

90

15

-

630

1965

300

-

150

90

-

-

540

1966

-

400

300

180

15

-

895

1967

-

275

250

90

15

-

630

1968

-

150

100

100

-

-

350

1969

-

365

285

40

-

-

690

Total

1275

1190

1688

936

67.3

42

5198.3

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1962 to 1969 = 649 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1962 and 1969 = 5198.3 Thousand (i.e. 5,198,300)

Print Quantities of Pre-war 'Other' Manuals 1926-36

Year

New/PrizeModels

StandardMechanisms

How to UseMeccano Parts

SteamEngine

Total

1926

-

5

-

-

5

1927

-

10

-

-

10

1928

35.5

18

-

-

53.5

1929

20

51

-

35

106

1930

21

-

35

5

61

1931

20

-

30

-

50

1932

15

-

-

-

15

1933

-

3

2.65

-

5.65

1934

10

15

-

-

25

1935

-

3.7

15.1

-

18.8

1936

-

11

-

-

11

Total

121.5

116.7

82.75

40

360.95

Average number of New/Prize Model manuals printed per year from 1928 to 1934 = 17 Thousand.

Average number of Standard Mechanisms manuals printed per year from 1926 to 1936 = 10 Thousand.

Average number of How to Use Meccano Parts manuals printed per year from 1930 to 1935 = 13 Thousand.

Average number of Steam Engine manuals printed per year from 1929 to 1930 = 20 Thousand.

Total number of Pre-War 'Other' manuals printed between 1926 and 1936 = 360.95 Thousand (i.e. 360,950)

Print Quantities Gears & Mechanisms manuals 1949-69

Year

Gears A

Gears B & Gears

Mechanisms

Total

1949

40

-

-

40

1950

35

-

-

35

1951

25

-

-

25

1952

-

-

-

0

1953

12.5

-

-

12.5

1954

22.5

-

-

22.5

1955

20

-

-

20

1956

-

30

-

30

1957

-

22.5

-

22.5

1958

-

10

-

10

1959

-

10

36

46

1960

-

25

-

25

1961

-

10

-

10

1962

-

10

-

10

1963

-

15

75

90

1964

-

-

-

0

1965

-

15

75

90

1966

-

15

10

25

1967

-

-

-

0

1968

-

10

-

10

1969

-

15

-

15

Total

155

187.5

196

538.5

Average number of Gears manuals printed per year from 1949 to 1969 = 16 Thousand.

Average number of Mechanisms manuals printed per year from 1959 to 1969 = 17 Thousand.